more stats
5.8 miles
Distance
961 ft
Climb
-962 ft
Descent
00:37:39
Avg time
-2 ft
Altitude change
3,121 ft
Altitude min
3,492 ft
Altitude max
3,356 ft
Altitude start
3,353 ft
Altitude end
-0%
Grade
-24.3%
Grade max
41.6%
Grade min
2 miles
Distance climb
3 miles
Distance down
1 mile
Distance flat
00:37:39
Avg time

Polecat Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Polecat
    Boise, Idaho
  • Ref Number
    #81
  • AKA
    Polecat Gulch
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 75 in Trail Running
    • 70 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #37476 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #34563 in Trail Running
    • #61811 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • Land Owner

Trail features great views of the Treasure Valley and Boise Ridgeline while providing single track around the perimeter of Polecat Gulch.

This trail is part of the Ridge to Rivers pilot program and the loop is now directional in CW (clockwise) only.

Trail Supporters
  • BLM
    BLM
    Land Manager
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 5 rides
  • 14 miles average
6 Months
  • 53 rides
  • 11 miles avg distance
All
  • 454 rides
  • Last: Sep 5, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Polecat Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Sep 5, 2026 @ 12:36pm (America/Boise)
23 hours
The recent rain really helped. Except for a few patches of deeper sand the trail was in great condition. Mid-day sun was drying it out pretty...
Aug 14, 2026 @ 1:19pm (America/Boise)
Aug 14, 2026
Watch out for deep sand on some of the turns coming down hill
Aug 1, 2026 @ 12:09pm (America/Boise)
Aug 1, 2026
Jul 11, 2026 @ 8:19am (America/Boise)
Jul 11, 2026
Mar 29, 2026 @ 2:58pm (America/Boise)
Mar 29, 2026
more »
Status:
on Sep 5, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.81 (16 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
  • > 96%
  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
  • > 50%
  • < 50%
  • bi-directional trail
  • no data
Trail Last Used
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
  • < 2 days
  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
  • < 6 months
  • > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
Contribute Details
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  • Description
  • Photos
  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. Think of this as a heatmap, more activities = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
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Activity Recordings
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Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where users jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
BC Backroad Status

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Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to polecat-loop trailhead (43.688680, -116.219920)

        Photos

        22 more »
        mtb
        67 |
        Jul 18, 2024 @ 4:30pm
        Jul 18, 2024
        mtb
        65 |
        Jul 18, 2024 @ 4:33pm
        Jul 18, 2024
        mtb
        122 |
        Oct 22, 2022 @ 2:04pm
        Oct 22, 2022
        mtb
        171 |
        Mar 3, 2022 @ 8:09am
        Mar 3, 2022

        Videos

        no videos have been added for Polecat Loop yet, add a video.

        Routes with this trail

        28 miles 2,867 ft 5
        yyyeeettetete bbbj jbjbkbkb ijijiji
        1.0 26 miles 2,831 ft 30
        Forks is missing a couple connectors but this is a sweet ride from Pioneer lodge down. At Polecat Gulch be...
        18 miles 1,438 ft 14 Point to Point
        Bogus to Piece Park neighborhood

        Trail Products

        3.8
        16 Ratings
        5 6%
        4 63%
        3 31%
        2
        1

        8 Reviews & Comments


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        • By idmtbiker52TF Pro & contributors
        • #51641 - 6,217 views

        Frequently Asked Questions About Polecat Loop

        Where is Polecat Loop located?
        Polecat Loop is located in Polecat, Boise, Idaho, United States. It is part of the Polecat trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 43.68868, -116.21992.
        How hard is Polecat Loop?
        Polecat Loop is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
        What is the elevation gain for Polecat Loop?
        Polecat Loop has 961 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 962 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 3,121 ft to 3,492 ft.
        Is Polecat Loop a point to point trail?
        Yes, Polecat Loop is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
        How long is Polecat Loop?
        Polecat Loop is 5.8 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        Are dogs allowed on Polecat Loop?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Polecat Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        When is the best time of year to ride Polecat Loop?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Polecat Loop are:
        • October (60 activities)
        • July (33 activities)
        • June (32 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        How do I access Polecat Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Polecat Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
        How long does it take to ride Polecat Loop?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 32 minutes to ride Polecat Loop. The trail is 5.8 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        How busy is Polecat Loop?
        Polecat Loop is a very popular trail. There have been 3,057 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 3,530 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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